Is this a migraine ?!

[namechangeforthiswun]

I’ve used ai to make the post, sorry.

● Persistent headache centred around my forehead and eyebrows.
● Described as throbbing pressure.
● The pain fluctuates in intensity but never completely disappears.
● Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen daily, which reduces the pain but doesn’t fully relieve it.
● Not aggravated by bending forward, coughing or straining.
● Less intense than migraines I experienced when I was younger.
● Experienced significant nausea yesterday, although the headache wasn’t particularly worse at the time.
Dizziness / Wooziness
● Recurring episodes of morning dizziness, occurring intermittently over the past couple of years.
● Usually wake up feeling normal while lying in bed.
● Dizziness begins immediately upon standing.
● Described as a physical fuzzy, woozy sensation in my head, rather than spinning or feeling mentally disconnected.
● Sometimes lasts around two hours before resolving.
● Today’s dizziness has continued even while sitting still.
● Previous episodes have often occurred without a headache.
● Blood pressure is generally normal, sometimes towards the lower end of normal.
Heart Palpitations
● Experienced two episodes yesterday.
● Felt like fluttering in my chest.
● Each episode lasted only a few seconds.
● No associated dizziness, breathlessness, chest pain or feeling faint during the episodes.
Other Relevant Information
● History of migraines and frequent headaches.
● History of anxiety.
● Taking escitalopram.
● Have previously wondered whether the recurring dizziness could be related to hormonal changes during my menstrual cycle.
Main concerns: Persistent headache with nausea, recurrent positional morning dizziness, ongoing wooziness and recent brief heart palpitations.

I am going to contact my doctors tomorrow about it but just wondering in the meantime what the hell is wrong with me, I feel really shit and it’s making me think I’ll never get better at this rate

I hadn't heard of this, but I still think it's sensible for OP to see her GP, to rule out cardiac issues, do blood tests etc.

Yes my husbands is more like pressure that occasionally becomes pain in a band on his head or in one eye. I do agree with PP that you should see a doctor, although GPs are pretty useless when it comes to migraine and especially rarer forms.

That’s why I recommend an appointment with the National Migraine Centre - they’re incredible. You can pay private or get in their list for free appointments (3+ month waiting list). They’re a lot more informed. Alternatively an audiovestibular specialist or neurologist can also assist in diagnosis and rule out vascular cause etc.

But a GP can certainly check your heart rate, BP, etc and then put you on a waiting list for a year or two and give you anti nausea tablets in the meantime if that’s your preferred route.

I agree that initial bloods would be a smart choice.

Sounds absolutely horrible, OP. Have you considered POTS? It is comorbid with ADHd and connective tissue disorders and I think migraine.

My cousin has this, she was diagnosed a couple of years ago. I don’t get a racing heart though. I am actually autistic but wondered about adhd too recently.

I was at the doctors a couple of weeks ago for something unrelated and had full bloods done, everything came back normal.

My migraines usually begin with a blurring of my vision and a fuzziness. Sometimes I get a feeling that the world has tilted to one side suddenly, a sort of jolt, like I'm going to fall off my chair. They then settle to a dull constant pain, mainly over my right eyebrow, but I can feel them in my ears, back of my head and even my teeth. They're completely resistant to any pain killers. The only things that help are ice packs and occasionally a high salt meal. I don't get nausea thankfully.
They are unpredictable. They used to be regular as clockwork with my period, but post menopause come and go as they please. I'm largely functional through them, as in I can look after myself and stay up and about, but I couldn't concentrate to work.

If my consultant psychiatrist (with 30+ years of experience in ADHD and autism) is to be believed, everyone who is autistic also has ADHD.

Blood tests would be normal with POTS. I have it and don’t have the feeling of a racing heart but my heart rate does go up by more than 30 when I move from lying to standing. If you have a blood pressure monitor, you can diagnose yourself. Lie down for 10 mins, measure blood pressure. Then stand up and measure your blood pressure at frequent intervals for 10 minutes. If your BP stays similar but your heart rate is at a sustained level of more than 30 beats per minute more
than it was when you wer lying , then that is POTS.

The treatment for it is electrolyte drinks and drinking more water (so more than you need to quench your thirst). Also physio.

When I have a migraine I can’t use my phone / any screen
It sounds like vertigo (from an ear infection)
I have no medical background at all though
I agree with the keeping a record advice - the symptoms sound horrible - at least with a migraine there is a finish (with mine anyway!)
Good Luck!

My migraines are behind my usually right eye, severe pain and light aversion. Can't do anything but take meds and nap it off. As opposed to a tension headache like a tight band around my forehead, milder but persistent, sometimes relieved with neck massage or bath, usually at times when I can recognise I'm very stressed.

Similar to mine! I get that pain into my teeth, like toothache everywhere, I get my symptoms on the left side of my face every time originating from behind my eye, and I feel like my eyeball is being pulled. Oddly comforting to hear I’m not the only one!

Sine menopause I have been having similar symptoms OP, went to GP to get HRT as I thought it was hormonal, had an ecg and loads of blood tests, everything normal so they put it down to stress, HRT made no difference but I think the headaches and nausea are due to sugar, if I cut back on my sugar intake the daily headaches disappear.